Tailpiece for stringed instruments.



J. LINDSEY.

TAIL PIECE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 19 09.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

3 H mm fqz (fame/m6 drais y Wi Hwooeo UNITED IZIQTENT OFFICE.

JONER LINDSEY, OF SNICARTE, ILLINOIS.

TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoNEn LTNDSEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Snicarte, in the county of Mason and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tailpieces for Stringed Instrmnents, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in musical instruments, and the invention has for its object an improved tailpiece for stringed instruments that is particularly adapted for use on violins or the like, and that is provided with a block to which all of the violin strings are attached at one end in a peculiar manner, and which is arranged to have the surplus length of these various strings wound thereabout so as to be susceptible of being quickly unwound therefrom and utilized as might be required in event of the string snapping near its other end, that is, the end attached to and wound about the tension key.

Vith this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe, and then point out the novel features of in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following dc scription and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the application of my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, with the spool in section; and, Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates my improved tailpiece which is attached at one end to the body of the violin in any approved manner, and which is formed at its opposite end with the usual transverse series of spacing apertures 2, there being one aperture for each string of the violin, and the walls of the apertures being correspondingly nicked, as indicated Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 28, 1909.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

Serial No. 474,716.

at 3, for a purpose to be presently described. Intermediate of its ends, and preferably in close proximity to the series-of spacing apertures, the tailpiece is formed in its upper face with a relatively large block l to hieh all of the strings of the violin are attached at one end, and which, in the present instance, is shown as formed with a plurality of transverse openings 5 through which the respective strings are passed, the ends of the strings being twisted or knotted in any suitable manner, so as to be prevented from being drawn through the openings and detached from the block, when subjected to tension. The surplus length of each of the strings is then wound about the block, and the strings are looped through the respective spacing a ')ertures 2, and seated in the nicks 3 thereof, as will be observed by reference to the drawing, the strings being then passed over the bridge-piece and along the fingerboard, and being attached at their opposite ends to their respective keys. The block is formed at its top with an outstanding flange to maintain the coils of the strings against displacement.

In the tuning of the instrument, it is necessary to wind and unwind the strings about their respective keys, in order to secure the requisite tension and thus the proper tone, and this repeated winding and unwinding about the keys often results in the strings snapping in proximity thereto. In event of such a contingency, it is merely necessary, on an instrument equipped with my improved tailpiece, to disengage such broken string from its spacing aperture 2 and unwind the surplus amount of the string from the block 4:, until the string is of requisite length, whereupon it is again attached to its key and reeled thereon, so that the instrument is again ready for use.

The ordinary tailpieces of stringed instruments are not adapted to accommodate the surplus amount of the strings, and inasmuch as it is manifestly too bulky and otherwise undesirable to wind the surplus about the tension keys, it has sometimes been the cus tom to cut off and thus waste the excess in length of the strings. Vith such an arrangement, however, if a comparatively short amount were to be broken from the opposite end of the string, that is, the end wound about the key, it would be necessary to remove the broken string and substitute a new one therefor. However, such a necessity is etl'ectually precluded by providing the block upon the tailpiece, and the convenience and economy resulting from such last named structure, will be apparent. Furthermore, my improved tailpiece embodies to a marked degree the characteristics of simplicity, durability and efiiciency, consists of comparatively few parts that may be easily and cheaply manufactured, and possesses certain other advantages that will recommend it to those for Whom the device is intended.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A tailpiece for stringed musical instruments, provided intermediate of its ends With a single block having an outstanding terminal flange and formed with a plurality of openings extending therethrough at points below the flange, the openings being equal in number to the number of strings of the instrument.

2. A tailpiece for stringed musical instruments, having upon its upper face a block, the block being formed at its top with an outstanding flange and being formed with a plurality oi openings extending therethrough at points below the flange, the openings being disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the tailpiece.

3. A tailpiece for stringed musical instruments having upon its upper taco an upstanding block formed with a plurality of openings extending therethrough for attaching a plurality of strings.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JONER LINDSEY.

\Vitnesses \V. P. Hares, STOC K (Jinx voi s. 

